Finished a bottle of delicious Spirit of Yorkshire Cream Liqueur. Like Baileys, but artisan, reasonably local, and tastes better. Well recommended.
Revisited the 90 Gangster genre with Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead. Underrated heist movie starring Andy Garcia as Jimmy the Saint, a retired gangster gone straight, called out of retirement for one last job, which predictably goes off the rails. Also making appearances: Christopher Lloyd, who I met last week, William Forsythe, who I met in ‘23 and Treat Williams who died in ‘23.
Dug out blaxploitation gem Coffy, starring Pam Grier, who I met last weekend. When her sister is hooked on heroin, a nurse tracks down the junkie pimps responsible and wipes them out.
Followed this up with Tarantino classic Jackie Brown, also starring Pam Grier in the titular role, as an air stewardess drugs mule caught in the crossfire between the FBI, her bail bondsman (who she falls for), her gangster boss, his pothead girlfriend and a dumb ex-con fresh out of jail. Not seen it in decades. I think for the first time I kinda followed it. Slow burn, well acted, with more depth than his previous 2. Marijuana, alcohol, and lots of raw cash on display.
Next in the pile: Less than Zero, Marek Kanievska’s 1987 adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ debut novel. The book – a rip-roaring, unforgiving portrait of rich late-teen life in LA in the 80s – was an astounding work of short fiction, with no real character arcs and no real purpose either. But the glamour and the pace and the crushing apathy from all the characters keep you hooked on every page. The film may have the same disillusionment and addiction-prone cut-and-copy characters, but the undeniable soul of the book is sadly lacking in the film. Ironically, Robert Downey Jr predicted his own future by playing a loaded drug addict disappointing everyone. Is there a phrase for when an actor does that? There should be. ‘De ja view?’ ‘The Downey Effect?’
Following this: Ken Russell’s The Devils, the 1971 formerly banned historical tale of French Priest Urbain Grandier, based on the real man of that name, left in charge of the city of Loudon during a time when The King is attempting to consolidate and centralise his power, intending to strip it from said priest. Complicated scenario enough. But Grandier’s arrival sends the local nuns into mass erotic hysteria, leading to witch-hunts and supposed demonic possession. If you’re ever religiously on the fence, this should push you towards atheism. What follows – prostitution, persecution, prosecution and execution. How’s that for elocution?
Deep, beautifully shot, horrendously violent for the early 70s and heavily plotted. Recently, film critic Mark Kermode has managed to dig out a few minutes of unseen footage from some movie vault, creating a newer version closer to the now-deceased Russell’s intended film.
We’re all probably at least culturally aware of Brian DePalma’s 1983 crime movie Scarface from 1983. Few are aware it’s a remake, though, of Howard Hawks’ 1932 original with Paul Muni as Tony, importing beer to Chicago during prohibition. At the time of the film’s production, alcohol was still outlawed, making the title cards (‘what are you going to do about it?’) eerily poignant. A shorter, faster, to-the-point tale of the big hard man reduced to nothing after he betrays everyone who ever helped him, resulting in his eventual downfall. Stunningly executed, impressive almost a century later.
I had to watch the DePalma / Pacino version after this, partly as it’s in theme, but also as I met Steven Bauer who plays Manny last week at Comic Con Liverpool. Any excuse. This time, it’s the early 80s. Tony’s a Cuban refugee, booted out of his jail – and country – by Castro, and has washed up on the shore of Miami. He climbs from Freedomtown thug to head honcho cocaine importer, whose meteoric rise precedes a devastating betrayal and a brutal fall from power. Both versions are classics. The remake is more fun, but the original more effectively conveys the journey of a man who betrays everyone who ever helped him, ultimately causing all their deaths, and eventually his own.
Little over a week left of this Excess Project. Lots more planned.
